Oral Joint Supplement Efficacy Tested in Senior Horses

As we grow older, we quickly learn we need to take better care of ourselves. This often includes taking supplements. Its no surprise that our older pasture pals could benefit as well. To read more on horse health, be sure to check out our horse health page. ~ HfH

According to researchers: Improvement in the control group’s might be attributable to the benefits of exercise as well. Photo by Anne M. Eberhardt

Keeping aging equids comfortable and sound is a top priority (and, often, a challenge) among senior horse owners. To help their older horses along, many owners reach for one or more of the available supplements designed to alleviate joint issues. But just how effective are these products?

Researchers at Utrecht University’s Department of Equine Sciences in the Netherlands recently sought to find out, as they investigated the efficacy of one oral supplement in improving gait stiffness in older horses during a three-month, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled study.

The researchers separated 24 senior horses, ranging in age from 25 to 34, into two groups: one received the manufacturer’s recommended dose of a compound oral supplement comprised of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), while the other received a placebo.

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